Food and beverage, cosmetic and retail industrieshttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com
Lascom | BlogTue, 22 May 2018 17:34:53 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.20Making Sense of the Clean Label Concepthttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/22/clean-label/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/22/clean-label/#commentsTue, 22 May 2018 15:00:13 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2015/02/12/clean-label/The number of American consumers who consider healthiness of the food or beverage when making a purchase has risen in the past two years. While taste and price consistently have been the two factors affecting consumers' food and beverage purchases, healthiness in 2014 join the podium.

]]>Clean Label is there to stay. As said by Lu Ann Williams, Innova Market Insights: “It’s not really a trend anymore, it’s the new rules of the game”. Over the past few years, consumers have been looking more and more for products with cleaner label. It has been a wake-up call for the food industry to create or re-formulate some of their products that fit in consumers’ wants. This desire for cleaner label might also go in pair with actions undertaken by governmental authorities to help customers better understand what they are exactly consuming, such as the new Nutrition Fact Label set by the FDA in the US.

How to define clean label?

It is difficult to clearly define clean label, as it is a concept that incorporates different trends. When asked, clean label can have different meaning from one customer to another. It will depend on their own expectations, wants and perceptions. Even companies have difficulties in interpreting the exact meaning of clean label. A Decision Analyst survey shows that nearly 60% of the respondents are aware of “clean label” products but do not fully understand the exact meaning.

However, clean label often refers to the number of ingredients in a product and their countries of origin. Consumers are paying more attention to the label, list of ingredients, nutritional value and claims. This concept also includes if the supply chain follows ethical rules, and if a company is socially responsible. Therefore, clean label encompasses a broad range of concepts from transparency, all-natural, organic, non-GMO, free-form to locally grown.

According to a 2017 Nielsen study, “clean” products’ sales keep rising compared to traditional products’ sales which are declining. Clean label represents 33% of the total food and beverage market, 1.2% higher than in 2015.

Who buy products with Clean Label? Why is it important to know it?

Income level and age group play major roles in determining if a person is more likely to purchase clean label products. However, Millennials, with annual household incomes over $100,000, are clearly driving this shift.

Millennials, those born between 1977 and 1994, account for 24% of the U.S. population and represent the largest generational group. They are in their active years, which means they have revenues to spend. They are also a tech savvy generation, so they have any information at their fingertips. They can look up ingredients, compare products and look at products’ reviews.

On the other hand, it is a great way for companies to promote their brands, share information about their products but more importantly connect with their consumers.

Therefore, it is important to understand who are buying these “clean” products to better tailor product innovation, re-formulation and marketing strategies.

Are companies embracing the clean label concept?

Some companies have successfully embraced the clean label concept. For instance, in 2015, Kraft Heinz re-formulated its Macaroni and Cheese, without telling consumers for months. To keep the recognizable orange color of their product, they removed artificial colors and preservatives, and replaced them by paprika, annatto and turmeric, which themselves have health benefits. Nestle is also adapting to this new consumers’ preferences. It has unveiled a new chocolate bar which uses an innovative sugar reduction technique, without altering the taste. Indeed, for existing products, it is important for manufacturers to move towards “cleaner” products, without compromising the taste.

More recently, Red Bull, which is usually not the first brand perceived as natural and healthy, has launched a new line of products. Only available in two regions in the US, this organic soda line is another example of how companies are embracing the clean label concept.

Food and Beverage Manufacturers are clearly interested in re-formulating products or innovating in order to be more appealing to consumers who want cleaner products.

How to make clean label products?

Here are four simple steps that food and beverage manufacturers can take to have “cleaner” products:

Step 1 – Shorten ingredients list

Consumers see products with shorter ingredients list as “cleaner”. However, it is challenging to formulate or re-formulate products with fewer ingredients. It can take months of work to make sure that the ingredient list is the only noticeable change to a product. Even though consumers are looking for shorter ingredient list, they are expecting products to be tasteful. In the case of re-formulation, it is even more challenging as they are expecting new re-formulated products to taste the same. Having less ingredients can also mean a shorter shelf life. Therefore, it is a tricky game to balance the consumers’ wants and needs with the actual feasibility of formulation, but it is not impossible.

Firstly, manufacturers should have a better understanding of what “clean label” means for their consumers. For instance, are they looking for only natural flavors and colors, or recognizable ingredients’ names? Then, businesses can take the necessary steps to meet those expectations, such as communicating the ingredients consumers do not recognize and perceive as harmful, find more natural alternatives, or remove certain ingredients such as artificial colors.

Step 2 – Replace artificial ingredients by natural alternatives

Clean label have reinforced the demand for simplicity and higher quality ingredients. Artificial ingredients, like artificial flavors, are not popular among consumers who are looking for clean label products. Some example of natural alternatives include:

Lemon juice concentrate and tartaric acid: these two ingredients are natural acidifiers, which can replace other acidity regulators such as citric acid E330.

Stevia and agave: both are popular substitutes for sugar or other artificial sweeteners.

Turmeric, beets, carrots, and spirulina: such ingredients are used to replace artificial food colors. They are even more interesting since they have health benefits in addition to their distinct colors.

Flours of flaxseed, chia seed and tiger nut: these natural ingredients interest manufacturers because of their emulsifier role. They could replace ingredients such as mono and di-glycerides.

Tips: Replacing ingredients in existing formulas can become cumbersome, especially when a company’s product portfolio is large. However, there are IT solutions that can help R&D teams manage those mass replacements.

Step 3 – Make simple and clear packaging

Clean label movement affects packaging materials and design. For instance, these past years, there was concern about packaging containing bisphenol-A (BPA). As a reaction to market demands for safer packaging, most companies have replaced their packaging for BPA-free containers. In 2018, it is believed that 90% of food cans are made with new non-BPA linings.

Regarding, the front-of-package labeling and design, it is also important to convey the clean label concept. Indeed, the wording used on a product packaging can help consumers make a purchasing decision. As mentioned above, different trends are included in the clean label concept, such as “gluten-free”, “non-GMO”, “organic, and “all-natural”. Consumers are more likely to perceive a product with these claims displayed on the packaging, as a clean label product.

Tips: It is important to have the right processes and workflows in place to streamline communication among all stakeholders, from R&D, marketing, quality teams to creative agency. This will ensure that a product comply with regulations but also meet consumers’ expectations about clean label products and packaging.

Step 4 – Implement sustainable practices

Clean label is not just about the ingredient lists or what is advertised on a packaging; it also refers to a product’s impacts on the environment and people. Consumers are becoming more aware of companies’ practices, and have high expectations on how businesses handle their product development. Corporate sustainability and responsibility are essential for consumers to assess the quality of a product. Every aspect is important, from ingredient sourcing, fair labor practices, animal welfare, and pollution to manufacturing practices. Manufacturers should, therefore, strive for more transparency of the whole supply chain.

The clean label concept is shifting from the label to processing. Research & development, quality and marketing teams are essential to develop new products or re-formulate existing one. They play a major role in innovation. However in order to successfully embrace the clean label concept, they need the appropriate support in place. Discover how Lascom Product Lifecycle Management software can help you manage your product development and meet clean label requirements.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/22/clean-label/feed/0Globally Harmonized System: How Does it Affects your Products?http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/18/globally-harmonized-system-how-does-it-affects-your-products/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/18/globally-harmonized-system-how-does-it-affects-your-products/#commentsFri, 18 May 2018 15:16:20 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1183The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international system created by the United Nations in order to standardized classification and labeling of chemical substances...

]]>The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international system created by the United Nations in order to standardized classification and labeling of chemical substances and mixtures. GHS by the United Nations includes several regulations such as, product testing, universal warning pictograms and safety data sheet for hazardous chemical. GHS is followed by many countries all over the world such as Canada, the U.S.A., the EU, etc. Most of them use it as a reference but integrated with their own local regulations.

In the USA, they use the Harmonized Communication Standard (HCS) that is monitored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) since 2012. In the EU, it’s under the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and it was first enforced in 2009. Canada has launched it in 2015 under the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). Three countries and regions and three different regulations in place but all of them are based and include most of the GHS standards.

GHS implementation in the U.S.A, Canada and the E.U.

1. Chemicals substances and mixtures classification – help to determine if a substance is hazardous and its level of severity

Safety Data Sheets (SDS), also known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), contain information on potential health hazards associated with exposure to chemicals or other substances that are potentially hazardous. The Safety Data Sheet specifies the composition of a chemical (substance or mixture), identifies hazards, recommends preventive measures (collective and individual) and first aid. In other words, it is a crucial piece of documentation for the health and well-being of consumers. It is mandatory in many countries such as European Union, USA and Canada. SDSs include several documents about the hazard of a product and advice users on its safety precautions. Most of the time, there are written by manufacturers or products’ supplier and accessible to every user.

The Globally Harmonized System defines basic requirements of the SDS with local regulations adjustments. Here’s below what the SDS should include in each country, region:

Being compliant is not only respecting regulations in the country of commercialization but also following global rules affecting each product in the world. The Globally Harmonized System is a good example for that as it has been created by the United Nations but implemented by many countries. In order to optimize compliance processes, a software can be the best solution. Lascom PLM can help you ensure your products are compliant all over the world thanks to an easy-to-manage solution.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/18/globally-harmonized-system-how-does-it-affects-your-products/feed/03 Tips To Better Manage Food Allergenshttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/08/3-tips-to-better-manage-allergens/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/08/3-tips-to-better-manage-allergens/#commentsTue, 08 May 2018 15:00:04 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=513Food allergens are a real concern in the US. According to the FDA, about 2% of adults and 5% of infants and young children suffer from food allergies. Each year,...

]]>Food allergens are a real concern in the US. According to the FDA, about 2% of adults and 5% of infants and young children suffer from food allergies. Each year, it is estimated that approximately 30,000 people need emergency room treatment. For the same period, food allergies cause the death of about 150 individuals.
With millions of Americans affected by food allergies, it is crucial for the food and beverage manufacturers to, firstly, understand what exactly food allergens are; and, secondly, implement processes to control and manage all types of allergens in their products.

What are food allergens?

The Food Allergy Research & Education describes a food allergy as a medical condition that results in an adverse health effect caused by the exposure to food triggers. Medically, the food proteins generate a reaction, where the immune system attacks these harmless proteins. The signs and symptoms vary from one individual to another. The allergic reaction can be mild (e.g.: itchiness, few hives, etc.), severe (e.g.: vomiting, trouble breathing, etc.) or life-threatening.
As there is no cure for food allergies, one solution to avoid any reaction is to be extremely cautious about the food consumed. Through accurate and clear food allergen labeling, food and beverage manufacturers play a key role in helping consumers make safe choices. Despite the importance of food labeling, there is still room to improve processes in place to ensure products are accurately displaying any major food allergens.

The graph below shows an increase of food allergen recall incidents until 2016 with a significant drop in 2017-18. Even though the number of incidents dramatically decreased from 2016 to 2017, it is still important to note that more than 50 incidents have been reported for the 2017-18 period:

Despite a decrease of recalls, the impacts of food allergens are still important. According to Dr. Li Zhou, over the last decade, there has been an increase in food allergy-related hospitalization in the USA. In total, the food allergies are estimated to cost the United States, approx. $25 billion per year.

What are the most common food allergens?

Commonly called the Big-8, it is a group of eight major allergenic foods which accounts for 90% of all food-allergic reactions:

Under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, these 8 foods and ingredients that contain protein derived from one of them are subject to FALCPA labeling requirements. In other words, allergens other than these big 8 are not subject to the labeling requirements. However, for allergic individuals, the sole protection is the product label.

3 Tips to better manage food allergens

Undeclared allergens on the product packaging has been identified as one of the main recall reasons. In 2017, 218 food products were recalled because they did not properly displayed allergenic ingredients on product labels. Cross-contamination with allergens is also another major cause for product recalls. However, simple steps can be taken to avoid these recalls and keep customer confidence high:

1- Implement a single source of information

Information is key to ensure that all food allergens are properly identified. However, product development generates a high volume of information, and it can quickly become overwhelming to efficiently handle all this information. So, every data, especially food allergens data, should be gathered in the same place. A knowledge base or repository can help manufacturers centralize and structure this information, such as certifications and laboratory results.
Creating a unique source of information will enable businesses to quickly access and find the right information at the right time.

2- Enforce supplier relationship

The raw materials received from suppliers, but also how these supplier handle the ingredients in their own facility, will impact your final product and the allergens that need to be declared on your packaging. Therefore, it is essential to streamline communication with your suppliers. Few steps can be taken to enforce this relationship.
The first one is to always structure the information received and send from/to your suppliers in the same way. This will facilitate information search as similar documents will follow the same structure. It will also ensure that all required information is received. The use of templates can simplify information sharing.
Secondly, every time a supplier submits new information, it is crucial to immediately update the element concerned by the modification (e.g.: new traces of allergens).
Information technologies can also help any food and beverage manufacturers to enforce their supplier relationships. A supplier portal can be implemented to improve collaboration. This portal will allow suppliers to directly input data such as raw material and ingredient specifications into the platform, guaranteeing timely and accurate information.

3- Be proactive

Do not wait for a recall or health alert to arise in order to enforce food allergens management. There are different options that food and beverage manufacturers can easily implement to be proactive:

Voluntarily declare other allergens: it is compulsory to identify and display the big-8 allergens, however some businesses voluntarily identify and display other food allergens on their product labels even though it is not required by regulations.

Rely on regulatory experts: relying on external food regulatory specialists will maximize product and label compliance while minimizing the risks related to it.

Establish clear processes: processes are important to ensure that information about food allergens is clearly identified and passed from suppliers to formulation to packaging. These processes are also important in case of recalls and health alerts. Indeed, having already clear and established processes in place will smooth and speed up how a company reacts to these events.

IT solutions: implementing an IT solution or software will support businesses with the management of their food allergens. Solutions, such as a Product Life-cycle Management (PLM) software, will allow companies to implement processes and workflows, easily share information, formulate following allergen specifications and securely access data.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/08/3-tips-to-better-manage-allergens/feed/0U.S.A. Cosmetic Regulations: All You Need to Knowhttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/01/u-s-a-cosmetic-regulations-all-you-need-to-know/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/01/u-s-a-cosmetic-regulations-all-you-need-to-know/#commentsTue, 01 May 2018 15:30:04 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1126In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulate cosmetic products. FDA gives the standards but most of the states have their...

]]>In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulate cosmetic products. FDA gives the standards but most of the states have their own regulations such as California.
In addition to cosmetic, FDA regulates all products containing more than one ingredient: foods, drugs, electronic products, medical devices, tobacco and cosmetics.

Products considered as “cosmetic” under the law

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act do not include all types of cosmetic products but have a limited list of items such as skin moisturizer, perfumes, lipsticks, nail polishes, eye and facial makeup, cleansing shampoos, permanent waves, hair colors, deodorants and any substances that could be use in one of those products.

A product is considered as a drug if its function is to prevent and heal a disease or if its use will lead to a body change. Sunscreen lotions are, for example, considered as a drug and are regulated differently by the FDA.

Cosmetic product safety and labeling

Product Registration

When putting a new cosmetic product on the market, manufacturers do not need FDA pre-approval but must ensure product is safe and comply with regulations in force. Except for color additives added in any cosmetic products, which need FDA approval before being commercialized in the USA.
FDA authority will check the product only if they receive complaints from consumers and if they are not in compliance with law. Product can be recall and manufacturer will have to change product to comply with regulations and to pay a fine defined by the FDA.

Legal authority still encourage manufacturers to submit their product, only the ones sold to consumers, but on a voluntary basis, the Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program (VCRP). This program allows the FDA to assess product safety, ingredients, frequency of use and register businesses involved in the cosmetic industry. The VCRP will not provide manufacturers an approval or disapproval for a cosmetic product to be on the market but support FDA work on product safety for consumers.
VCRP offers three ways to participate:
– Register cosmetic manufacturing and packaging establishments
– Fill Cosmetic Product Ingredient Statements (CPIS)
– Amend or Discontinue a product formulation

Product safety

As mentioned earlier, FDA does not required manufacturers to register cosmetic products before commercialization. Unlike the European Union, cosmetic products are not pre-approved by the FDA.

Manufacturers and businesses have the legal responsibility to ensure product safety and labeling. No specific tests are recommended or compulsory but the manufacturer should do anything in its power to make sure products are safe to be used by consumers. In addition, they do not have to submit any proof of testing or safety information with the FDA.

However, FDA have put together a list of prohibited and restricted ingredients considered harmful to use in cosmetic products. The list contains 8 prohibited and 2 restricted ingredients. This list is not as complete as the one in the EU (more than 1000 ingredients banned) or the one in force for the state of California, Proposition 65.

FDA does inspect products and facilities on a regular basis but manufacturers are not required to notify customer complaints. In addition, FDA does not have the right to order recalls; they need to be initiated by the manufacturer and will be, then, monitored by the legal authority. If a cosmetic is considered misbranded or adulterated and has received several complaints from customers, FDA can pursue action through the department of Justice and order the recall of the product.

Product labeling

The FDA under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) regulates cosmetic product labeling to ensure that package and labels give consumers accurate information about the product.
Product label should contain:
– identity statement: name, nature and use of the product
– net quantity of contents
– name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor
– material facts – directions for safe use for example
– warning and caution statement
– ingredients list

Labeling information must be written in English, except for U.S. regions where another language is predominant (e.g. Puerto Rico).

FPLA gives detailed information on the cosmetic labeling regulations and what must be shown on product label (outer and inner package). Font, label size, font size, information layout and many other guidance can be found on the Cosmetic Labeling Guide.

Compared to other countries or regions, cosmetic regulations in the U.S.A are lighter and less strict. Still, manufacturers need to make sure that they follow the right rules. Especially when it comes to labeling as misbranding is one of the main reason of product recall. In addition, most of the U.S. states have their own regulations to take into account when commercializing your product.

A PLM software can help you to generate automatically your labels in compliance with country-specific regulations. Prohibited ingredients are also included within the solution to minimize formulation errors and encourage consumer safety.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/05/01/u-s-a-cosmetic-regulations-all-you-need-to-know/feed/04 Trends in Food and Beverage Formulationhttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/25/4-trends-food-and-beverage-formulations/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/25/4-trends-food-and-beverage-formulations/#commentsWed, 25 Apr 2018 15:34:45 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1139The food and beverage industry has been very dynamic in following trends in order to stay ahead of the game. Taking into consideration those trends, companies largely invest in new...

]]>The food and beverage industry has been very dynamic in following trends in order to stay ahead of the game. Taking into consideration those trends, companies largely invest in new product development or re-formulation. Indeed, the need to develop new products through new or re-formulated recipes is supported by strong competition and demanding consumers – especially Millennials. Recently, there has been a great focus on reformulating or developing new product with healthier ingredients and cleaner labels. Formulators have been challenged to find new ways and ingredients to simplify labels while meeting expectations in term of nutrition, function and taste.

Here are some trends that should be embraced to stay relevant with consumers:

Formulation trend 1 – Bold and bright natural colors

Color food is trending, everything needs to be “instagrammable”, people want to take pictures of what they eat or drink and share it on their social media. So expect bold and bright natural colors to be an interesting trend. Some companies are already riding this trend. Think about Starbucks and its unicorn Frappuccino or, lately, with its color-changing cold brew – only available in select markets throughout Asia – using butterfly pea flower tea. According to Innova Market Insights, the global food and beverage launches with natural food colors have increased by 15.2% from 2012-2016.

Food developers can use this trend to their advantage, connecting bright colors and health. It is clear that clean label is one of the most important trend, but tapping into the color trend does not mean trading healthy for pretty. It exists different clean label ingredients which can be used to enhance colors. Clean label products that are eye-catching will attract consumers.

One color that is currently trending is purple. Ube or purple yam are pretty popular and have often been used in Filipino cuisine. Purple corn, cauliflower or sweet potatoes are not only colorful but also rich in antioxidant and anthocyanin.

Formulation trend 2 – Reducing sugar

Sugar reduction is a hot topic, not only consumers are looking for products with less sugar but governments are also encouraging the reduction of sugar intake.

In the US, the FDA has introduced the new Nutrition Facts Panel, which puts, for the first time, greater emphasis on added sugars. Additionally, different states are considering or have already imposed a tax on sweetened beverages, so-called soda taxes. These taxes place further scrutiny on the amount of sugar in beverages in particular.

As consumers will be better informed about the sugar level of goods they consume, formulators might want to find new ways to either decrease the level of sugar or replace the sugar by healthier ingredients without altering a product’s taste.

Manufacturers have different options when addressing this challenge. One of these options include the use of flavor modulation technologies which allow a product to meet dietary requirements without sacrificing the taste. For instance, formulators use them to enhance the perception of sweetness without adding sugar.

International companies are also looking for new ways to reduce sugar in their products. Nestlé has recently unveiled a new chocolate bar which uses an innovative sugar reduction technique with only natural ingredients. Basically this technique restructures sugar so a consumer will perceive the same level of sweetness while actually consuming less sugar.

In the beverage industry, consumption of sweetened carbonated soft drinks has decreased, therefore companies have to adapt to these new consumers’ preferences. The main replacements being coffee drinks, water and plant-based dairy alternatives.

Formulation trend 3 – Plant-based products

The power of plants in numbers:

according to the U.S. Centers for disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, only 3% of adults ate the suggested amount of vegetables

the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests, for an adult, 5-2 cups of fruits and 2-3 cups of vegetables daily

In the beverage industry, this trend is important as vegetable-based alternatives replace other ingredients that can be seen as less desirable by a growing number of consumers, such as dairy milk displaced by almond, soy or hemp milk.

In addition, drinks containing plant-based proteins meet the functional and nutritional needs of consumers. Many of these consumers rely more on vegetables rather than animal products. Those products include proteins from various sources such as pea and brown rice. Some examples of plant-based protein products include NutraProtein Power blend – containing protein from pea, brown rice, etc. -, Vega Protein+ Shake, or Califia Farms’ enhanced milks.

Even the food industry has opportunities using this type of proteins. Consumers are interested in increasing their vegetables and fruits consumption and/or reducing or eliminating their meat protein intakes. Vegetables-based and plant-based proteins are therefore interesting substitutes. For instance, the Farm&Oven Snacks company incorporates 40% of the recommended daily veggies in their cookies. Another example is Beyond Meat, which creates meat-looking products but from plants, such as their burger patties made from pea protein.

Formulation trend 4 – Use of emerging ingredients

Using new ingredients is aligned with the healthful product trends. It has been seen that consumers are more aware of what they are eating and drinking, therefore, they are cautious about the ingredients in their products. However, if they are used to consume certain products, they are expecting the same taste and texture but with healthier ingredients. Developing new products also needs to balance taste, function and nutrition. This is why formulators have turned to ingredients, looking for new ways to re-formulate their products in healthier versions or creating new healthy recipes. Some of the ingredients include:

Cannabis derivatives: still a controversial subject, cannabis derivatives, such as Cannabidiol, may have some medicinal benefits. We are talking here about highly refined marijuana ingredients that could add new functional characteristics to a product. In the US, some states have already legalized the use of cannabis, so it is definitely interesting to stay informed about this ingredient and its benefits.

Acerola: this fruit has been used for thousands of years, especially in Central and South America, but is more and more popular in the rest of the world. According to Future Market Insight, the global acerola extract market is expected to be valued at US$ 17.5 billion by 2026. Acerola fruit is rich in vitamin A & C, antioxidants and is used as a natural health supplement.

Monk fruit: even though this natural sweetener has been around for a few years now, it might be of more interest because of the sugar reduction trend. Native to southern China and northern Thailand, it contains fructose and glucose and is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. The monk fruit also allows manufacturers to enhance sweetness and remove any of the bitter notes.

That being said, the critical success factor is how those trends can be followed during formulation. Formulation support is crucial. Both introducing new ingredients into an existing product, and innovating and developing new products have their own challenges. Manufacturers need to provide technical support to their formulators, and technologies may provide opportunities for further optimization of the formulation. Learn how Lascom can support you during the formulation of your product.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/25/4-trends-food-and-beverage-formulations/feed/0Cosmetic Regulations in California: What You Should Knowhttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/17/cosmetic-regulations-in-california-what-you-should-know/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/17/cosmetic-regulations-in-california-what-you-should-know/#commentsTue, 17 Apr 2018 15:44:26 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1092Each 50 states of the U.S. are under national and federal regulations. It is not uncommon that states have different regulations from others. This is exactly what happens in the...

]]>Each 50 states of the U.S. are under national and federal regulations. It is not uncommon that states have different regulations from others. This is exactly what happens in the state of California, especially, when it comes to cosmetic products. In addition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, California as its own rules that all businesses selling in this state must follow.

Most of those regulations concerns product safety for consumers with more specification and control in California than in any other states. The California Safe Cosmetics Act, Proposition 65, CARB, COPA or more recently the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act are regulations that only apply in California and that have influenced other states to take actions.

Here are few acts and regulations that are specific to California and needs to be followed when commercializing any cosmetic product in that state.

California’s regulation landscape

Current FDA regulations do not include mandatory safety testing of any cosmetic products sold in the U.S. They do not have the authority to approve a product before its launch on the market and can only make random audits.

In California, it is the same as no safety testing are required before products go on the market but each raw material needs to be safe for consumers.

Thanks to the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law (also known as the “Sherman Law), the California Department of Public Health through the Food and Drugs Branch have full authority over cosmetics, drugs and foods. In other words, California, can decide of any regulations and rules that apply to cosmetic products.

Since then, few regulations have been introduced to insure consumers’ safety and transparency when it comes to product ingredients.

Californian-specific regulations to take into consideration

First published in 1986, Proposition 65 list first goal is to protect drinking water sources from toxic substances that may cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm and overall to reduce exposures to harmful chemicals. Over the years, it has become a resource to increase consumer safety towards any chemicals identified in products, “no person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving clear and reasonable warning to such individual”.

The OEHHA* is responsible to publish and update, at least once a year, the Proposition 65 list that counts, now, more than 900 substances. If any of your product contains at least one of these substances, you must warn the consumers by:

Adding a specific label on the product – e.g. “Warning this product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer”

Posting signs at the workplace

Distributing or publishing notices

The warning should be easily understandable, readable and prominently placed.

But not all businesses are concerned by the Prop 65 list. Indeed, there are some exemptions such as:

Governmental agencies and public water utilities

Businesses with nine or fewer employees

Products that contains chemicals below the safe harbor level

California Safe Cosmetic Act

In addition to the Prop 65, in 2005, California release its Safe Cosmetic Act and became the first state to pass a legislation around safety and reporting cosmetic ingredients. The program aims to protect consumers and promote the safe manufacture of cosmetic products.

It requires manufacturer, packer or distributor, with at least $1 million annual revenue, to identify any cosmetics products that contains ingredient known to be potentially harmful or harmful to consumers – e.g. ingredients that could cause cancer, birth defects, etc. They also have to report ingredients concentration within the product and continuously update the report in the case of any change. Hazardous and potentially hazardous ingredients are identified within a list of chemical ingredients including chemicals listed under California’s Proposition 65 as well as those listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Center for Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction (CERHR) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Created in 1967, the CARB is the Californian air-cleaning agency – and this is the only state that has its own as the Clean Air Act regulates the rest of the country.
Main goals of this agency are to protect the public from the harmful effects of air pollutions and developing programs to fight climate change. It concerns any type of air pollution, from vehicles emissions to cosmetic products.

Cosmetic products’ air pollution is becoming a real concern for the CARB and are under their radar more and more efforts to regulate them. In order to reduce VOC emissions they have set VOC limits (percent by weight) for a variety of products including hairsprays, fragrances or nail care. Any of these products should not exceed applicable limit.

California Organic Products Act (COPA)

The National Organic Program (NOP) under the Organic Foods Production Act regulates nationwide, organic products. A set of rules and conditions have been established in order to determine if a product is organic or not. The NOP, only concerns food and beverage products and nothing has been set nationally to regulate cosmetics.

That is why, California, has launched, in 2003, the COPA. In alignment with the NOP, it does not only concerns food but also cosmetic products. It requires that cosmetic products sold as organic contain at least 70% of organically produced ingredients. Californian state, also considers that any product that follows the NOP regulations with proofs can be sold as organic.

The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, SB 1249

More recently, in February 2018, California has introduced the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, SB 1249 to ban animal testing on cosmetic products. After January 2020, cosmetic manufacturers will not be able to sell or import any final product or any component of the product that have been tested on animals.

California was already, in 2000, the first state to encourage manufacturers to avoid animal testing, as since then it is illegal to use animal testing when an appropriate alternative method is available. In 2013, it was the turn to the European Union to prohibit importation and selling of cosmetic products that been tested on animals.

It is difficult to follow and track on each country and state specific regulations and when you know them collecting information from suppliers and internal departments can become a nightmare. Lascom PLM offers you the possibility to centralize all product information from all of your suppliers but also from internal departments. It will then become easy to retrieve the information needed and constitute any required dossiers. In addition, all prohibited ingredients from each country and state are listed within the solution so that it’s almost impossible to make an error when formulating your cosmetic product.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/17/cosmetic-regulations-in-california-what-you-should-know/feed/2What to Know About the Nutrition Facts Label Updateshttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/12/what-to-know-about-the-nutrition-facts-label-updates/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/12/what-to-know-about-the-nutrition-facts-label-updates/#commentsThu, 12 Apr 2018 15:00:34 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2014/06/10/nutrition-facts-panel-updates/The new nutritional facts label should have been enforced in July 2018. However, the FDA is proposing to extend the compliance deadline.

]]>The new nutritional facts label should have been enforced in July 2018. However, the FDA is proposing to extend the compliance deadline. Food manufacturers will have until January 1, 2020 to comply with this new nutrition facts label.

The Obama-era updates for nutrition facts labels on packaged foods has been delayed by the Food & Drug Administration, after industry groups complained to not have enough time to implement the required changes. The FDA has issued a proposed rule to extend the compliance dates for the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts label final rule and the Serving Size final rule from July 2018 to January 2020 and 2021. It is important to note that the FDA is not proposing any other changes to the final rules and that only compliance deadlines are modified.

The compliance deadlines will depend on a manufacturer’s annual food sales. Manufacturers with $10 million or more in sales will have until January 1, 2020. Those with annual food sales of less than $10 million will have an additional year to comply with the final rules – until Jan. 1, 2021. This extra time will allow manufacturers covered by the rule to complete and print new nutrition facts labels. Some professionals applauded this extension, such as Pamela G. Bailey, Grocery Manufacturers Association president and CEO, who said that the “FDA’s common-sense decision will reduce consumer confusion and costs”. She also added that the new deadline would give companies more time to follow final guidance documents from FDA which were not released at that time – such as the guidance on fiber and several other key issues only released on March 1, 2018.

Label should mention the actual amount of vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium, in addition to the percent Daily Value. Regarding the other vitamins and minerals, manufacturers can declare them on a voluntary basis.

Some existing information will be rephrased so consumers will have a better understanding of what it really means. For instance, the footnote will read: “*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”

Updated Nutrition Science Information

The nutrition facts label needs to include “Added sugars” in grams and as a percent Daily Value.

Some nutrients including Vitamin D, potassium, calcium and iron are required to be declared. On the other hand, manufacturers can decide whether other nutrients, such as Vitamin A and C, need to be included.

Based on newer scientific evidence, the FDA has reviewed daily values of nutrients especially regarding sodium, dietary fiber and vitamin D. Thus, people are able to understand their nutrition information considering their total daily diet.

Updated Serving and Packaging Sizes

Serving size will correspond to what people effectively eat and not what people should eat, portions have been re-thought. The infographic above shows real portions consumed by people in the US.

“Per Serving” / “Per Package” – On current packages, calories and nutrition information are showed “per serving” only. However, for larger than a single serving products, the new nutrition fact labels requires to add a “per package”/”per unit” column. This aims to better inform consumers about their food and beverage consumption.

Therefore, manufacturers, you have until Jan. 2020 or Jan 2021 – depending on your annual food sales – to comply with the new nutrition facts label. In the meantime, find out how Lascom can help you manage and automatically generate compliant nutrition fact panels, while supporting your product development.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/12/what-to-know-about-the-nutrition-facts-label-updates/feed/0PLM for Cosmetics: Why Do You Need to Invest?http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/03/cosmetic-businesses-why-do-you-need-to-invest-in-a-plm-solution/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/03/cosmetic-businesses-why-do-you-need-to-invest-in-a-plm-solution/#commentsTue, 03 Apr 2018 15:46:07 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1063Cosmetic manufacturers and brands are subject to regulations requirements that are more and more strengthened all over the world. Cosmetic businesses more than ever, must optimize their innovation process to...

]]>Cosmetic manufacturers and brands are subject to regulations requirements that are more and more strengthened all over the world. Cosmetic businesses more than ever, must optimize their innovation process to face:

A fast-growing competitor landscape

Shortened product lifecycle due to seasonal constraints

Increasing product development costs

Higher consumer expectations

Fast-evolving technologies

How a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution can help cosmetic businesses to remain competitive and innovative?

A PLM is a software designed to help you throughout the whole product lifecycle and especially during product development phase. From the product brief expressed by the marketing team to the packaging design including formulation, compliance, collaboration with partners, document and task management, etc. A PLM software covers each stage of new product development and helps you to innovate and maintain your competitive advantage.

Using a PLM software will significantly speed up product time to market, increase your team productivity while making sure to screen associated risks.

Speed up time to market and product innovation

A tool dedicated to new product development enhancing innovation

A solution organized by product assortment

Packaging design made simple thanks to a dedicated artwork tool

Improve teams productivity

Master product portfolio with centralized data and documents

Automatically generate labelling in different languages to facilitate your expansion

Ease collaboration with supplier and partners throughout the product lifecycle

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/04/03/cosmetic-businesses-why-do-you-need-to-invest-in-a-plm-solution/feed/0Canadian Regulations for Cosmetic Products at a Glancehttp://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/03/21/canadian-regulations-for-cosmetic-products-at-a-glance/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/03/21/canadian-regulations-for-cosmetic-products-at-a-glance/#commentsWed, 21 Mar 2018 15:49:12 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=1002One of the most important component of new product development concerns the product compliance in the country where it is going to be sold. Indeed, each country has its own...

]]>One of the most important component of new product development concerns the product compliance in the country where it is going to be sold. Indeed, each country has its own regulations especially when it comes to product formulation and consumers safety.

Canadian regulations are slightly different from the USA but not as strict as the ones in force in the European Union. For example, we count more than 1700 ingredients prohibited or restricted in the EU whereas only 573 ingredients are listed in the Canadian’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.

Canadian landscape for cosmetic regulations

As defined by The Food and Drugs Act, a cosmetic product is a “substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use in cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth, and includes deodorants and perfumes”. All cosmetics products sold in Canada must be manufactured, prepared, preserved, packed and stored under sanitary conditions. And manufacturers should submit evidence to establish the safety of the product only upon request from the minister.

They are regulated by different Acts and organizations such as:

The Cosmetic regulations under The Food and Drugs Act: global regulations around cosmetic products in Canada, including importation specification, sales, labelling, product and packaging safety

New Substances Notification (NSN) Regulations: all chemical or polymer that are not registered on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) should be submitted as a new substance on the NSN and provided to the Minister of the Environment to protect consumers’ safety

Each Act and regulations as its own approach and process to follow, that’s why a deep understanding of each one is necessary before commercializing any cosmetic product within Canada.

Major regulations to follow to be compliant

The Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF)

As defined per section 30 and 31 of the Cosmetic Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act, each new cosmetic product sold in Canada must be notified, within 10 days, to Health Canada by submitting a Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF). It does not only concern new product but also any changes affecting the CNF such as modification of the formulation, change of the product name, discontinuation of sale or new company name, address or contact information. In each of these cases, the manufacturer or importer should amend and resubmit the CNF to Health Canada.

The CNF, is an online form including 9 different sections that requests the following information:

Name and address in Canada of the manufacturer, importer or distributor

Name and address of the formulator if different from manufacturer

Filling the CNF does not guarantee that your product is safe to use and sell in Canada it must comply with the requirements of the Food and Drug act and its Cosmetic Regulations.

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

As per most countries in the world and following Canada’s alignment with GHS, every material controlled by the WHMIS and covered by the Hazardous Products Act must be associated with a SDS.

SDSs are a bunch of documents providing information about the hazard of a product and advice users on its safety precautions. Most of the time, there are written by manufacturers or products’ suppliers and must be accessible to every user.

The information and documents provided on the SDS must be in both official languages of Canada, English and French. The SDS should always be updated if any changes occur to the hazardous product.

Cosmetic product labelling in Canada

Each country as its own labelling regulations and Canada is not an exception. Indeed, we can find few specificities to the Canadian cosmetic product labelling.

Product labeling should be compliant with the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and the Cosmetic Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act. Except for INCI ingredient names, all labels must be written in English and French and clearly legible during the entire product life.

It should include:

Name an address of the manufacturer

Identity of the cosmetic: generic name and function

List of ingredients: only by its INCI name – it must be listed in descending order or predominance

Product formulation

Product net quantity: in metric units of measure in English and French

Avoidable hazards and cautions

Regulations around cosmetic products are quite complex as each Act has its own regulations and each country its own Acts. But even when the compliance process is identified and clear, challenge is to find the right information for the right document. Lascom PLM software helps to gather product and raw material information from any of your partner in order to compile the required dossier. Download our brochure and learn how you can optimize your data management and make sure that your products are compliant.

]]>http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/03/21/canadian-regulations-for-cosmetic-products-at-a-glance/feed/0Sustainable Packaging: Why You Need to Step Up Your Game?http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/02/26/sustainable-packaging-why-you-need-to-step-up-your-game/
http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/2018/02/26/sustainable-packaging-why-you-need-to-step-up-your-game/#commentsMon, 26 Feb 2018 18:25:30 +0000http://www.inno-foodproducts-brainbox.com/?p=988When it comes to packaging, brands have an ocean of choices: color, texture, shape, material, size, etc. And we all know how packaging is a key part of the customer...

]]>When it comes to packaging, brands have an ocean of choices: color, texture, shape, material, size, etc. And we all know how packaging is a key part of the customer experience and how it is determinant for them in the making a purchase decision process.

As the first consumers’ point of contact, each packaging component should be chosen carefully, it has to be aligned with the brand identity and be a storyteller. Sustainable packaging has become, since few years now, the future of packaging.

Plastic waste is one of the biggest worldwide challenge when it comes to preserve our planet and everybody is concerned. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation forecasts that by 2050 there could be as much plastic as fish in the oceans, if current trends continue. Among the 32 million tons of plastic waste per year, only 9% is recovered for recycling. But not only our planet is damaged, around 700 marine species could go extinct if we keep going this way.

Most countries have taken a step forward and banned free plastic bags in supermarkets to encourage consumers to take re-used bags instead. Taiwan has committed to go even further by prohibiting all single-use plastics by 2030, it means no more plastic cup, cutlery, etc. anywhere – restaurants, fast-foods, supermarkets and more.

Sustainable packaging strategies implemented by global brands

Now, it is time for brands to step up their game and adopt sustainable packaging. In the Food and Beverage industry, McDonald has announced last month its global sustainable commitment to provide 100% sustainable packaging to its customers by 2025 – come from renewable or recycled source. Dunkin Donuts, on its side, will use only recyclable and certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standards cups by 2020.

Personal care and cosmetics brands are concerned by the change too. Not only because consumers are requesting it, but also because saving our planet is a concern for all of us. Since few years, L’Oréal, has driven several initiatives to improve their product packaging’s eco-design. Encouraging their suppliers to use eco-friendly materials, internal teams to find new ways to design packaging and products but also other personal care and cosmetic businesses to think about new ways to reduce their plastic waste footprint. In May 2018, L’Oréal and Quantis have launched SPICE – the Sustainable Packaging Initiative for CosmEtics, a collaboration of cosmetic industry players – such as Coty, Chanel, Shiseido, Avon, etc. with a common goal of reinventing the packaging of tomorrow on a sustainable way.

Lush cosmetics is also a good example when it comes to sustainable packaging, encouraging their customers to bring back their empty boxes in order to get a free face mask. They have also launched in 2010, their “knot-wraps” where they use re-usable scarves instead of paper to wrap customers’ gifts.

On the same way, Sephora – only in France for now, encourages its customers to bring back their empty perfume bottles to get a 20% discount on their next purchase. Empty bottles are then recovered for recycling. Kiehl’s, Origins, Mac or even Avedo have initiate similar approaches.

Sustainable packaging: yes but how?

Several options can be use by brands in order to provide a sustainable packaging to consumers and then help to reduce plastic waste: